Sparking device.



A. L. RIKER.

SPARKING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 19. 1907.

11 1 3M1 9 Patented Jan. 16, 1917.

as the head I) of a stem Z2 ANDREW L. BIKER, OF BRIDGEPORT, GONNE'UTIEQUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE LQGUMOBHJE COMPANY OF AMERICA, OFNE'W YDRK, Ill. 21, Al GORPURATION GE Wllfifitl. lllttillliilith.

SPARKXNG DTEVKGE.

melan n.

Patented ltd, wilt.

Application filed January 19, 1967. Serial No. cancer.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, AN REW L. RIKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairlield and State'of Connecticut, have invented an limprovement in Sparking Devices, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

19 My invention relates tosparking devices and particularly to the construction of such devices when employed for igniting the explosive, charge in an internal combustion engine.

My invention has for its object the simplification and the more eficient construction of such devices. My invention willhe best understood by reference to the following description when taken in cnnection with the accompanying illustration of one specific embodiment thereoflwhile its scope will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,--Figure 1 cylinder of an internal combustion; engine showing the exterior relation ot-the parts of a make-and-break sparkingdevice thereto; Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side elevation out the sparking device looking from the interior, and Fig. t is a central, sectional view on an enlarged scale of the plug carrying the stationary contact. Fig. 5 shows a modified form of the plug.

Referring to the drawings, 1 have shown the principal operative parts at a make-andloreak sparking device applied to the cylinder a of an explosion engine. Although but a single cylinder and single device is shown, it will be obvious that a duplicate apparatus may be applied to the cylinders of a multi le cylinder engine.

Reterring to Figs. 2 and l, there is provided within the space a at the engine cylinder, which is a part of or in close connection with the explosion space, a stationary contact I), which has the usual electrical no connection with one pole of a magneto generator or battery (not shown). This contact, which may be of irridium or any other metal suited to withstand the effect of repeatedly continued sparking, is carriedupon which extends outtill is a side elevation of a portion of the exterior of the wardly through the walls of the cylinder. The said contact is maintained in cooperative alinem'ent witlna corresponding movable contact 0 (Fig. 3) carried upon the end of an oscillatory arm 0. The arm is given an oscillatory movement to cause a repeated make-and-break or the circuit at the contacts and to cause the ignition of the explosive mixture contained within the cylinder as is well understood, through its connection to the lateral rock shaft 0 which extends errteriorly and is secured to the lever arm 0. The latter is connected to the upright actuating rod 01 through the medium of an adjust-ably fixed collar 0?, sliding collar d compression spring i and nut al thereby permitting a slight relative yielding movement between the rod and the lever. The rod is given a vertical reciprocatory movement through the underlying cam shalt (not shown) appropriately timed and suilicient in amount to cause the successive engagement and disengagement oi the contact points within the cylinder at the desired times.

-' The parts sustaining the stationary and movable contacts are all carried by and removable with the igniter plate c, which latter has the inner tapered hearing portion 6', which is drawn against a correspondingly tapered seat in the walls of the cylinder a by means of the bolts and nuts shown, suit able packing e being preferably employed between the flanged edges of the igniter plate and the adjacent walls of the cylinder.

The inner end of the rock shaft c is provided with a head 0 which has a tapered bearing upon the inner face of the igniter plate, the taper of said head contracting ext-eriorly so that the pressure in the cylin der tends to maintain a tight tit hetween the said head and the hearing plate. 5

in constructing, sparking devices of this general character it is customary to carry the terminals for the stationary contact and 7 support the contact itself upon a plug or nipple which has threaded engagement with the cylinder walls and is screwed therein to a seat or shoulder. This, however, requires a tine carefully cut thread for the plug to prevent leakage. This construction is particularly objectionable where the stationary contact is intended to 006perate with the movable contact, as in the make-and-break sparking device shown, for

and a tight fit in screwing in the plug the stationary contact must be so left as to bring it within the path of the movable contact, which seldom gives the tightest fit to the threaded plug. In the present construction these disadvantages are obviated by sustaining the stationary contact and its connections upon the tapered plug f, which may be of composition or other suitable material, the taper of the said plug contracting exteriorly and adapted to seat in a correspondingly tapered hole in the walls of the igniter plate 0. Beyond the contracted end of the taper is a threaded portion 7', which when the plug is seated extends beyond the tapered bore of the plate, said threaded portion being engaged by the clamping nut 7, which. after the contact 7) has been turned to bring it into proper alinement with the movable contact, may be turned to draw the plug to a tight seat within the plate. The plug actually needs to be seated with but a comparatively loose fit, for the pressure within the cylinder constantly tends to force it more firmly to its seat and prevent any possible leakage.

The stem 6 leading to the contact I) is insulated from the surrounding plug by the insulating bushing 7"", which may be of mica or any other suitable insulating material. At its inner end it and the contact 7) are insulatedfrom the plug by the insulating body f com-posed of laminae or thin washers of mica placed between one end of the plug and the flange 12 adjacent the head. At the outer end there is also provided an insulating body f of similar mica laminae, which are retained between the outer end of the plug and the washer F. The outer end of the plug is threaded as shown in Fig. l for the reception of suitable check and lock nuts, as shown, between which are securely held the two stationary knife blades 5], g, of copper or other suitable conducting material, which projects laterally as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and in cooperation with the movable switch blade g, constitute a switch through which all connection to the igniter contacts may be broken.

In a multiple cylinder engine the over- 56' head rock shaft having a central core of conducting material and a sheathing of insulating material, extends transversely of the several cylinders and is provided at each igniter device with a corresponding switch blade 9 with its upright actuating handle g, so that by tipping any one of the switch handles the rock shaft will be turned and all the switches simultaneously opened or closed. One pole of the magneto is connected to one end of the rock shaft and the other pole is grounded to the frame.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a modified form of plug wherein for the mica washers f there has been substituted a body it of porcelain or other suitable and efiicient insulating material, the inside face of the latter having :rpocket in which the head I) is seated, such insulating body acting as a most ellicient insulation conductor for the terminal I).

ll'hile I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that the same is not limited to the details illustrated or described. or the relative arrangement of parts disclosed, or to the specific application of my invention, but that various modifications thereof and extensive departures therefrom may be made without departing from the true spirit of the invention.

Claims.

1. A sparking device for internal combustion engines comprising a stationary and movable contact supported by an igniter plate, the latter having a tapered seat in the cylinder walls, the said stationary contact being sustained by an outwardly contracted tapered plug, insulation material between the walls of the contact and the tapered plug, the latter having a correspondingly tapered seat in the said plate.

2. A sparking device for internal combustion engines comprising relatively movable contact members; a plug to support one of them having an insulatin r layer interposed between the body of the plug and its contact member; means to secure the contact member rigidly to the plug so as to be substantially unitary and removable therewith; but separate from and independent of the other contact member and means for securing the plug with its substantially unitary contact member in a tapered seat in the cylinder Wall.

3. A sparking device for an internal combustion engine comprising a metallic support, a removable plug structure having an interior electrode member, an exterior, tapered, metallic plug contracted from the contact end thereof toward the exterior and having a correspondingly tapered seat in the metallic support, an insulator for insulating said contact member from the plug and from the metallic support when in.- stalled, a nut threaded onto said electrode member fixedly to secure said electrode member to said metallic plug, and a nut threaded onto said plug and engaging said metallic support for removably securing said plug in its tapered seat in the metallic support.

4. A sparking device for an internal combustion engine comprising a metallic support, a removable plug interior electrode member, an exterior, tapered, metallic plug contracted from the contact end thereof toward the exterior and having a correspondingly tapered seat in the metallic support, an insulator for insulating said electrode member from the plug and from the metallic support when installed, means fixedly to secure the electrode structure having an member to the metallic plug, and independent and distinct means removably to secure the plug in its tapered seat in the metallic support, each of said means being accessible from the outer face of said metallic support Without disturbing the other of said means.

5. A sparking device for an internal combustion engine comprising a metallic support, a removable plug structure having an interior electrode member, an exterior, tapered, metallic plug contracted from the contact end thereof toward the exterior and having a correspondingly tapered metal to metal seat in the metallic support, an insulator for insulating said electrode member from the plug and from the metallic support when installed, means fixedly to secure the electrode member to the metallic plug, and independent and distinct means removably to secure the plug in its tapered seat in the metallic support Without disturbing the first-mentioned means.

6. A sparking device for an internal combustion engine comprising a metallic support, a removable plug structure having an interior electrode member, an exterior, tapered, metallic plug contracted from the contact end thereof toward the exterior and having a correspondingly tapered seat in the metallic's'upport, an insulator for insulating said electrode member from the plug and from the metallic support when installed, a nut threaded onto said electrode member fixedly to secure said electrode member to said metallic plug, and a nut threaded onto said plug and engaging said metallic support for removably securing said plug ,in its tapered seat in the metallic support, the first-mentioned nut being located outwardly beyond the second-mentioned nut, and the latter having its threaded aperture larger in diameter than that of the first-mentioned nut.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ANDREW L. BIKER.

Witnesses:

WM. S. TrinL, Jn, THOMAS B. Boo'rn.

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